Reports Richard Norton-Taylor of The Guardian today,

“Joanna Lumley said today that Gurkha supporters had been the victims of smears and lies, after a defence minister publicly apologised for attacking her over the way she conducted the successful campaign to allow all Nepalese veterans of the British army the right to settle in the UK.

 

Kevan Jones, the veterans' minister, said: “I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused to Joanna Lumley … I have the greatest of respect for Joanna for her superb work on Gurkha issues.”

Joanna Lumley is held in great esteem by the British Public and in consequence is strong enough to look after herself, but what of the lawyers involved on behalf of the Gurkhas?  According to Mr  Richard Norton-Taylor,

“[Kevan] Jones was asked by the Commons home affairs committee whether he was aware of “rogue solicitors” involved in Gurkha cases. He replied that he understood an organisation called the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation (GAESO) had been taking payments of £500 from Gurkha veterans and passing them on to UK solicitor Howe & Co, which was part of the campaign to win settlement rights.

 

The firm’s senior partner, Martin Howe, said Jones’s comments were “extremely defamatory”. “I knew at the time that his words were untrue and should not have been made, but as a result almost a Stasi-like investigation was started into my firm. Within days investigators were in my office, crawling over files, questioning people, asking for documentation.” ”

Anyone who dares to challenge Labour’s distorted version of the truth or exposes its spin on events is smeared, or worse.

Gurkha champion Joanna Lumley attacks 'smears' by minister